Tag: toddlerlife

Baby Born dolls was introduced to the market in 1991 and since then more than 22 million have been sold! Prima Toys gifted the Twincesses with their own Baby Born dolls and it’s easy to see why they are so popular.

Thequality of the dollsareoutstanding. The newsoft-touch body feelssupple,adds a greater dimension of realness, and makes you want to cuddle the doll even more.

The dolls are 43cm in length which makes them perfect for even the littlest of toddlers. There’s options of boy or girl dolls as well as a doll with a darker skin tone. There’s even a choice of an older sister or brother doll.

TheBaby Born dollscome with a full range of accessories including a potty, pacifier, nappies, baby food, bottles, bowl and spoon.

But perhaps what makesthem sovery uniqueis the 9 life-like functions that all work WITHOUT batteries. Yep, you heard that correctly – no batteries required!

–She is fullybathable. The doll can be completely immersed in water, so your little one doesn’t have to part with her best friend when she takes a bath.

The Baby Born dolls provide hours and hours of fun for my girls. They adore giving their dolls aleisurelybath, which has been the perfect activity for this scorching summer days.

They take so much delight in the doll’s bodily functions (should I be worried? Lol) On another note, if your toddler isn’t yet potty-trained the Baby Born doll in my opinion would make the perfect companion for your little one during this dreaded phase.Childrenlearn by example after all.

The doll comes with cleaning instructions, so you don’t have to worry about mould build-up or clogging the functioning parts.

With special added touches like their very own birth certificate and matching friendship bracelets for both the doll and your toddler, the Baby Born dolls have thought if literally everything.

The quality is immaculate, so I can safely say this doll will be around for ages, and since it has been consistently holding my children’s attention this past week, I doubt it will be relegated to the bottom of the toybox anytime soon.

Thinking of booking a family cruise? – Here’s everything you need to know.

I’ve recently stepped offa local (South African) MSC-operated cruise from Cape Town to Durban. I was under the impression that cruises are a wonderful, low-stress holiday for families – boy was I wrong!

Sure, there are some pros to cruising…cruise companies wouldn’t be the profit-making conglomerates they areif everyone hated cruising… but after our first family cruise, I’ve decided it’s not for us.

I’veput together a list ofpros and consof cruise holidays below, tryinghardto remain as unbiased as possibledespite our negativeexperience. The information below is my opinion, yours may be very different. Also remember that I am solely looking at cruising from a family perspective i.e. travelling with kids. Adult-only groups may also find they have a different experience.

PROs to Family Cruising

–You get to see many places without the hassle ofactually traveling.

Lugging aroundheavy suitcases, using public transport,and figuring out maps in an unfamiliarplace are some of the travel hassles that arealleviated when travelling on a cruise itinerary. Your booking will clearly let you know which ports of call are includedin your cruise, you get a pre-set amount of time at each port and excursions can be arranged in advance if you want to see aparticular historicalsite at the stop over city.

–All you can eat food – included in your ticket price

Technically, you don’t need to reach for your wallet once you board the cruise. Food is abundant and served almost all day at the ship’s restaurants and snack areas. Drinks are not included. Save for water fountains and coffee in the buffetareaONLY. No drinks are included at the restaurants.

–Entertainment – included in your ticket price

From deck parties to quizzes and games, the entertainment staff are there specifically to ensure peoplehave a good time. They urge people onto the dancefloor in the clubs and lounges andfacilitatecompetitions and games during the day.

The ship’s onboard theatre normally schedules a different show each night and this is usually a highlight for me.

–Kids Clubs

Most cruise lines (local MSC included) have different age-appropriate kids clubs thatcankeep kids entertained, busy and SAFE, whilst parents enjoy some adult time.Our kids flat out refused to stay in a strange place with strange people without us present, and even the thrill of LEGO could not convince them otherwise.Soif your children are also a bit clingy, this may not be an option.

Unless you decide to stay in your stateroom and order room service the entire time, you WILL find yourself surrounded by people anywhere you go on the cruise ship.

–Endless queues

There’s no two ways about it, if there’s thousands of people getting on the cruise, there’swill be queuesto embark, queues to get into the restaurant,toactivate your cruise card,to get a drink at the bar, to pay your bill at the end, to disembarketcetcetc…

And maybe your kids are different, but my kids areaverseto queues…they just don’t understand whywe had tostand in a30-minute line to getinto the onboard restaurant. Come to think of it, neither could we.

We found queues just about everywhere, and most annoying, long lines at everysingleelevator. It became extremely frustrating after a while.

–Unpredictable weather conditions

When booking a cruise, please remember that you areat the mercy of the weather. The cruise company have significant terms and conditions that wholly cover them if they need to change/cancel itineraries and this can leave you with unexpected costs and lots of strife.

–Space

If your “kids cruise free” as cruise companies normally punt, it means your children (2max) will be sharing your cabin with you. Unless you plump for abalconysuite, you’ll struggle with cabin space.It’sshockingreally just how cramped you are…imagine opening a large suitcase on the bedwhile your children and partner try to share the same tiny corridor you’re standing in. I could not cope with the lack of space to shower and dress in.

–Motion Sickness

I think this depends on various factors, the speed the ship is travelling, sea winds,thecaptain’s skill, and your own body’ssusceptibilityto motion sickness. I’ve been on 2Mediterranean cruisesand haveactually marvelledon how I felt nothing on the ship. The local MSC cruise however was dreadful in terms of sea sickness for me(and severalof my family members). Wewere sick the entire time. The ship rocked and lurched so drastically, I could not stand in my cabin without holding on to somethingfor support and safety. And now, twodays since disembarking the ship, I still feel my head spin from that motion.

–Communicating with family – lack of cell signal

One of the biggest gripes for me personally was not being able to send a simple message to our familyWhatsAppgroup to let them know I’m going to breakfast or going to the deck for some sunshine.We were a big group so keeping in touch was a hassle.And looking for someone on a cruise ship is like searching for a needle in a haystack.Parents with older kids might also find this challengingif they needed to easily locate their teenager, for example.

–Kids Cruise Free

I mentioned thisabove butwanted to add this to the ‘con’ list, because even if you love your own kids andwantto be around them all day…you most certainly don’t want to be surrounded byhordesof sugar-hyped kids for theentireduration of your holiday. And that’s precisely what I found on our cruise ship.Most people have taken advantage of the ‘kids cruise free’ offer and there were kids everywhere! Kids splashing noisily in the pools, pushing you at the buffet lines, babies crying as you try to read your book on deck…just kidsliterallyeverywhere.If you work at adaycare, it might just be your cup of tea, but otherwise…not so much.

–Terrible Food

I mentioned above that food isabundant, but what happens when you’re stuck on a ship and the food is just awful? That was my experience on our local MSC cruise. The food looked and tasted like mass produced fodder. Perhaps we were just unlucky with the food due to the delays, maybe the food was prepared for the ship in haste? I don’t know…butthe buffet wasinedibleandI found the restaurant offeringwas actually justsomething from the buffetwhich wasplated and brought to your table. I ate hardly anything at all.And to be honest I could not find a single passenger that enjoyed the food onboard.

–Price of goods onboard.

Ok, I expected drinks, spa treatments etc to be quite costly onboard, but even I was shocked that an average cocktail could set you back $6 plus 15% tax. That’s over ZAR100 for asingledrink. All onboard charges are in US Dollars which makes it tricky to work out the conversion rates before you charge something to your card.

A single jumbo-sized photo costs $10, plus an additional $10 for the (single) digital version. I think many people got a very nasty surprise when they got their bills on the last night to realise their few onboard swipes meant they were liable to pay thousands of Rands.

I’ll never say never, but I’d be VERY unlikely to book a cruise for our family again. Besides the nasty experience we had with MSC Cruise Lines (a story for another day), I found cruising extremely stressful and tiring, which is not what a holiday should be. The crowds and lines were impossible at times, and the lack of space was a definite turn off.Add to that inedible food and motion sickness…and well, no thanks!

PanMacmillan recently sent us some beautiful new books that fit right in with the Twincesses latest obsessions!

Oscar the Hungry Unicorn is a hilarious tale of unicorn named Oscar (you guessed it!) who eats literally everything in sight! This very hungry unicorn has just eaten his stable so he needs to find a new place to live.

But the pirates don’t want him (he eats their ships!), and the fairies don’t want him (he eats their toadstool homes). Even the trolls and the dragons don’t want him.

Poor Oscar is running out of options until he meets Princess Oola, who has been looking for a unicorn forever!! A match made in heaven!

Mermicorns is a gorgeous mix and match book that allows a child’s creativity to run wild. Kids can make hundreds of combinations of mermaids and unicorns (Mermicorns) until they find their favorite. With a sturdy board-book format, it’s perfect for little hands!

The girls had a blast with this book and I don’t see them getting bored of it any time soon!

2019 has kicked off with the girls attending big school… and a stash of books is exactly what we needed! Thank you PanMacmillan for these gems!

It’s the last Friday before Christmas! That means it’s the final post in our Top Ten Toys series. For this last post, we’re deviating slightly in that the toy isn’t yet Twincess Tested. It will be, in 4 days time as I have two of these patiently waiting under the Christmas tree.

Ever since a fellow blogger’s Facebook post went viral, I’ve been intrigued by Scruff a Luvs.

Inside the colorful box lies an animal that is matted and “ugly”, and with a bit of TLC this animal cleans up to reveal a puppy, kitten or bunny that just wants to shower you with love forever.

Quite simply, the concept is something that resonates very strongly with me (and I’m sure most parents will agree). Teaching a child to rescue rather than shop, to look beyond the appearance to what lies underneath… are all wonderful qualities that every child should posses.

The best part is that you are teaching a child that just a little love and care goes a long way and when it comes to rescue animals, will be reciprocated with loyalty and love.

And this lesson is well learned as it comes across while “doing” instead of just getting a lecture about rescuing animals. Kids are immersed in the extreme makeover from start to finish.

I’m in love with the idea of this toy. I can’t wait for the girls to open it on Christmas morning and see their reactions! I’ll be sure to capture and share.

Merry Christmas to all my followers and readers. Thank you so much for supporting our humble online space this year! May your festive season be happy and blessed xx

I don’t know a single child that doesn’t love building LEGO. My kids are no exception. Earlier this year I bought them their first LEGO Duplo set after being drawn to the bright colours and large blocks in store.

For those who may not be familiar, Duplo is a brand of LEGO that is specifically designed for preschoolers (1-5 years). Duplo bricks are twice the length, height and width of traditional Lego bricks, making them easier to handle and less likely to be swallowed by younger children. But despite their size, they are still compatible with traditional Lego so your kids are still able to continue enjoying them as they grow older.

I picked up the Duplo number train as the girls were busy learning numbers at the beginning of the year. They really enjoy playing with this set and manipulating the blocks in different ways to achieve different results.

And because LEGO is such a fantastic toy to improve fine motor skills, problem solving techniques and lateral thinking, Santa has bought the girls two new big boxes of LEGO Duplo for Christmas this year.

First up, they will receive the Duplo My Town series which contains sets from popular “city” places such as the airport, office, park, pizzeria etc.

Additionally I also bought them a big box of blocks to ensure their imaginations are never limited.

I’m pretty sure the girls are going to be thrilled with their LEGO Duplo presents.

If you have a fidgety toddler on your hands, I’d urge you to grab a box of Duplo from your nearest toy store. It’s bound to keep them interested and engaged for hours on end!

Afternoon Tea became popularized in the 19thcentury when the Duchess of Bedford and her ladies of leisure would sit down with tea and cream scones to fill the long gap between meals.

Today Afternoon Tea is an elegant experience to be savoured. I have had Afternoon Tea (sometimes referred to as High Tea) at somefive-star venues around the world, but for me personally, nothing compares to traditional Afternoon Tea at the Oyster Box Hotel.

Tea is served at Palm Court, which is the heart of the Oyster Box’s dining scene. The venue is drenched in natural light and surrounded by lush palm trees. Four magnificent chandeliers set the ambience while live piano music cascades and mingles effortlessly with the leisurely conversations.

The waiters are ever attentive, and that first glass of champagne materializes almost as soon as I sit down.

The palatial surroundings and the beautiful piano sounds just give you a sense of glamour and grandeur. The tables are laid with fine porcelainand a handwritten card to add a touch of personal charm.

The centre consoleis laden with mouth-watering pastries, cakes and scones. For those who have less of a sweet tooth, and may prefer the savoury aspects of life, fear not. There are quiches, finger sandwiches, samosas and even sushi on offer.

The atmosphere is elegant and refined, yet totally relaxed. Groups of people enjoy sipping and chatting, not a care in the world. There are people celebrating all sorts of specialoccasions.

Indeed,Afternoon Tea at the Oyster Box makes the perfect backdrop to celebrate everything from a baby shower to birthday, bachelorette party to graduation.

Of course, we were celebratingourten-yearwedding anniversary, and were pleasantly surprised with a special cake from the team.

The selection of teas and coffees are as extensive as the food choices. We lingered over cheese plates and smoked salmon sandwiches before moving on to blueberry scones with clotted cream and preserves.

The experience is atreat in itself, theopulent surroundingsand deliciousdelicacies will ensure you have an experience to remember. Worth every penny in my opinion!

I would highly recommend Afternoon Tea at the Oyster Box Hotel whether you’re a local inDurban orpassing through our beautiful city – put this one your bucket list! The experiencewouldalso make a specialoccasion/ celebration that much more memorable.

At the time of publishing this post, the Afternoon tea at the Oyster Box Hotel is R365 per person, and includes a glass of bubbly, tea/coffee selections and the all you can eat buffet of sweet and savoury offerings. I would highly recommend booking well in advance, especially for special occasions.

Has our Top Ten Toys series given you some great ideas for your little ones? I hope it has! Our final 3 posts are bringing you some of our favorite products this year, such as the Disney Princess doll series from Hasbro.

If you have a little girl, these popular dolls are sure to put a giant smile on her face come Christmas morning.

The range includes some of Disney’s most loved Princesses; including Rapunzel, Belle, Cinderella, Tiana, Ariel and Snow White.

The Princesses are dressed in their iconic dresses from the story/movie, which will make them instantly recognizable by your little Disney enthusiast.

We received Snow White to review, and the Twincesses were thoroughly smitten with their doll. They began role-playing almost immediately, although neither of them wanted to be the Evil Witch. Lol

Kids will love playing out their magical story moments with their favorite princess. The price tag on these dolls makes them super affordable too! They retail at approximately R149 in toy stores, but Pick And Pay currently have them on special at just R79!

At that price I couldn’t resist getting a few more to add to the Twincesses’ Christmas presents! Can you guess which ones??

Disney is timeless, and there isn’t a little I know that doesn’t dream of being a Princess. Make her dream come true with these beautiful dolls and watch her imagination soar!

We are nearing the end of our Top Ten Toys series. I hope you have enjoyed reading our personally Tested recommendations on toys that have made an impression on my family this year.

In this week’s post, we wanted to share a perennial favorite across households : board games.

Board games make a great gift! They suit a wide age range… everyone from the toddlers to grandma can get stuck in (depending on the game, obviously), they’re fun and timeless.

Hasbro has the widest selection of games available this year, and you are bound to find something you and your family will love! And what’s more, board games are something that can be kept for years and years, making it a gift that keeps on giving.

Let’s take a look at some classics, and then dive into some newer options available this year.

Monopoly: Monopoly games have been entertaining families since 1935, and people love the roller-coaster ride to success. This year pick up the Monopoly World Édition, where you race around the world, gathering stamps in your passport as you buy up the world’s most famous cities. And while you’re at it, invest in Monopoly Junior, which sees the classic game adapted for younger players.
Little ones can buy cool properties such as the pet store, the candy store, and the video game arcade, and easy rules use single dollar bills for simple transactions.

Trivial Pursuit: I loved playing Trivial Pursuit when I was growing up! Confident in my general knowledge, I just loved the challenge and the eventual win – lol! This year, the classic game gets an edgy update with Trivial Pursuit X, which leaves its mark- literally! The loser is the first to be branded with 5 Xs to the forehead after getting five questions wrong! And for millennials, there’s Trivial Pursuit 2000s with all questions being like totally relatable. 🤣

Some of my favorites are the newer board games Hasbro has introduced, one of which is Speak Out. After watching celebrities attempt this hilarious game on the Ellen Show, I have been dying to play it! Basically, you insert a plastic mouthpiece (which looks as funny as it will make you sound), and then attempt to communicate a complicated phrase to your teammates, which they must guess. Trust me, it it hilarious. This one will definitely be under our tree this year. A gift to me!

From classics like Battleship, Risk, Clue And Twister, to modern games like Hearing Things, PieFace, Don’t Lose Your Cool to Toilet Trouble (yes, that’s actually a board game!) – Hasbro has you covered this festive season!

And to ensure you’re able to play anywhere and everywhere, there’s even a Grab and Go series which sees some of the most-loved board games in smaller, travel-sized versions that can be played literally anywhere (think long car trips).

There’s something for everyone in Hasbro’s arsenal of board games this year. I can’t think of nothing better than whipping out a family favorite after Christmas lunch and getting stuck into the fun and laughter.

It’s exactly a month to Christmas guys! The decorations adorn the ship windows, and the malls are belting out Christmas tunes.. it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

We’re in the home stretch of our Top Ten Toys series and this week I wanted to talk about a firm favorite in our household (and most likely yours): Play Doh.

I’ve never met a child who doesn’t luuuurve Play Doh. Have you? The Twincesses have a lot of toys, but bust out a can of Play Doh and the smiles and excitement are second to none!

The beauty lies in the possibilities. What may just be a can of red modeling compound to us, is a rocket ship, a princess castle or a submarine to them.

With Play Doh their imaginations can run wild, creating, playing, and most importantly; learning.

Play Doh has recognized the huge impact they have on helping little ones learn, and have come up with the Shape and Learn series which includes, numbers, alphabets, colors and shapes.

Playing with Play Doh can assist children in growing their curiosity, develop cognitive exploration and enhance fine motor skills by developing and strengthening hand muscles, which encourages pre-writing and other motor skills.

The tactile, hands-on nature of Play-Doh compound can also help encourage development of hand-eye coordination. Play-Doh offers kids a multi-sensory experience allowing them to learn about their world through touch, sight and smell.

Thankfully for parents, the options are endless, and you can choose s can or 2 in their favorite colors for a stocking filler, or opt with one of the larger play sets as a standalone gift. Either way, I can guarantee your child is going to love this gift!

Julia Donaldson may very well be our favorite person. We have slowly built up our collection of Julia’s books over the years and we eagerly anticipate any new release.

Can you imagine our sheer delight then when this blog drop arrived:

Can you think of anything cuter than Julia Donaldson Book and Toy gift sets?

The Gruffalo is perhaps Julia’s most famous story… with the “terrible” but highly lovable Gruffalo making bedtime story-time the world over just a little more exciting. The beautiful box is adorned with the familiar illustrations and contains the book (slightly smaller – but not tiny by any means), and a plush Gruffalo Toy.

I’m almost certain I was more excited than the girls to see the beautiful Gruffalo toy! It’s just SO cute! The attention to detail… it’s all there… from the terrible tusks, to his terrible claws, and the terrible teeth inside those terrible jaws. I could see the that his eyes were orange and his tongue was black; and there were purples prickles all over his back!

The second Book and Toy gift sets we received was another one of Julia’s stories that we have read over and over: Sugarlump and the Unicorn.

This gorgeous gift set came with a plush unicorn, again with careful attention paid to ensure the toy matched the description of the unicorn in the story… right down to her eyes of blue.

I’m really so excited to share these gift options with you. I always ensure I add a few books to the Twincesses’ Christmas haul, but this book and toy combo will make a stunning gift on its own! I truly believe that as parents we should strive to give our children the gift of reading… and Julia Donaldson would be my go-to choice.

Thank you Pan Macmillan for spoiling us with these gorgeous gift sets. They will be cherished for years to come.